Relay and the like



J. w. FRENCH RELAY AND THE LIKE Nov. 3, 1925.

Filed Dec. 22, 1923 l/wi/vmi M,

JAMES WEIR FRENCH, F GLASGOW", SCOTLAND, ASSIGNOB. TO AND STEOUD,

EWITED, 0F GLA soornenn.

RELAY AND THE LIKE.

Application filed December To all 'lU/tOWL it may concern:

Be it known that l, J. 1213s lVEIR FRENOH,

a subject a the King of Great Britain and T and, and of Canton Street Anniesland.

G sgow Scotland. have invented new and us ul Improvements in or Connected with Relays and the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention refers to relays and the like of the type comprising a transmitter, and following mechanism for reproducing the movements or" the transmitter, the transmitter of which may be sensitive and of comparatively small power, the following mechanism of comparatively high power.

This invention refers particularly to the transmitter of such relays and a transmitter according to this invention comprises a displaceable device, a cam or other equivalent mechanism displaceable about a position of synchronism by rota"on to an unlimited extent and capable of being displaced by one motive element actuated say, by hand and replaced by another motive element such a receiver motor (the movements of these two motive elements being transmitted. to the displaceable device through the intermediary, say, or" a difterential) a control element, displaceable about a mean position through the intermediary of the displaceable device, and retaining means (a contact element or other device) for holding the control element in one or other of its extreme positions. The invention. also refers to means which may be provided for increasing the length of the insulator on the contact element when such is employed.

Some examples of construction according to this invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating part of a relay and one example of transmitter. Figure 2 is a plan illustrating a part of the transmitter mechanism.

Figure 3 is a diagram and Figure 4 is a plan, corresponding respectively to Figures 1 and 2, illustrating a modification. Figure 5 is an elevation of part of the mechanism.

Figure 6 is an elevation illustrating mechanism to be described.

In the system and mechanism illustrated Figures 1 and 2. the displaceable device is a cam drum 1 capable. of rotation to an a switch member connected to turn with.

the arm 5, and 8 are contact brushes. In Figure 2 the switch member '2' and brushes 8 are illushated separately. Motions for rotating the drum 1 are imparted through a ditlerential A. A A? by drives applied to the element A by a handle 9, and to the elemen A? by a receiver motor 12 and gear wheels 13 and 11. the element A and 11 being connected to rotate together. The motor 1.2 is controlled in conformity with the movements or" the following mechanism (not shown) of the relay. it, while the motor 12 is at rest. the handle 9 is rotated, say by one step. the drum 1 will be rotated by one step; the pin 4 will be deflected by a definite amount equivalent to one step, say towards the left "he switch member 7. which may be a l1Ull'l. will be displaced by an equivalent amount and the appropriate circuit for the following; mechanism 01"" the relay. will be established bv brushes 8 or 8 and brush 8, causing the following mechanism of the relay to operate in one direction or the other. ahead. The following mechanism in its operation causes motor 12 to drive drum 1 in a direction and by an amount that will restore drum 1 to the position the position of synchronism) it occupied before the handle 9 was displaced by one step, the drive passing from motor 12 through 13, 11 and jockey element A.

It now handle 9 is rotated through more than one step, the pin 4 attcr first being displaced say towards the left will rest against the side of the drum 1. If the drum 1 is rotated through less than one revolution from a position of synchronism, the pin 4 will always be able to pass into the slot 3 and reach the mean position when the motor 12 rotates the drum back to its position of synchronism as shown at Figure 1. If the drum 1 is required to be rotated through more than one revolution from the position of synchronism, then retaining means require to be provided in order to prevent the pin 1 from entering the slot 3 except when at the position of synchronism. For instance, electrical retaining means may be provided, for example, see Figures 1 and 2, as tollows:l or purposes of description it will be assumed that when handle 9 is r tated two steps, tie pin 1 will be displaced two steps, say towards the left,.int'o an extreme position B, where it bears against the side of the drum 1, and that the drum 1 makes one revolution for 120 steps.

Connected to rotate with drum 1 is a worm 18 which by a wormwheel drives a contact disc 19 carrying an insul: ed portion 20 associated with a contact brush 21. Current may be led to the conducting portion or" 19 through a brush The length of the insulator 20 may be such that when the drum 1 has rotated 100 steps, that is, less than one revolution, the brush 21 will make contact with the disc 19 and an electro-magnet will be energized. A. pole 17 of the electro-magnet 15' will attract and hold an armature 16, carried by the arm 5, and the pin 1 in position 18 will be held and prevented from entering the slot 3.

As the drum 1 is still further rotated in the same direction the brush 21 remains on the conducting portion of 19 and the electro magnet 15 conti ties to hold the arm 5, It then the direction of rotation or" the drum 1 is reversed either by rotating handle 9 or in the wiping out action of motor 12, the contact disc 19 will rotate in the reverse direction and when the drum 1 is within say, 100 steps of the position oi"- synchronism, that is, less than one revolution from that position, the insulator 20 will pass under brush 21 and further movement in the same direction will cause the circuit through the electro-magnet 15 to be broken, armature 16 to be released, and pin 4 will rest against the side of the drum 1 and will be free to enter the slot 3 at the appropriate moment.

ihe switch member 7 and also the conductor disc 19may be provided with additional contacts it required.

An example of mechanical retaining means, see Figures 3, l and 5, comprises a wormwheel 26 driven by a worm 25 and bevel gears 2% and 23 from the shaft 2. Connected to rotate with 26 are two discs 28 and 28 each having a gap 29, see Figure 5, in its periphery, and so arranged that when the arm 5 is in its mean position, as shown in Figure 3, the two gaps 29 are opposite the end 16 of the arm 5. By rotating drum 1 arm 5 is first displaced on either side of its lneanposition, causing its end 16 to pass from between the discs through one of the gaps 29 to a position at the outside of one of the discs, and as the drum 1 rotates discs 28 and 28 rotate also, and when the drum 1 has made a fraction of a revolution, say as before 100 steps, discs 28 and 23 will have been rotated to an extent which removes the gap 29 from its position opposite the end 16 and brings into position a i)()1"i1l.l1 f rim of the disc which intercepts the 01. 16 causing the arm 5 to remain in oneor other of its positions. Thus, it the drum 1 l 11 one revolut rom the position or" synchronism the i will be prevented from entering the slot 3 until the drum 1 has been rotated in a reverse 1' tion by an equal amount that will bring the gaps 29 opposite the nd 16 The electrical retaining means, Figures 1 and 2, and the mechanical retaining means, Figures 3, e and 5, may be so arranged that when the contact disc 19, Figure 1, or the locking disc Figures 3 and 5, has made one complete revolution, the pin 4; will be tree again to enter slot 3 without it being necessary to rotate the disc 19 or 28 through one compl ,e revolution in the reverse direction. With this arrangement the following mechanism is capable o1 synchronizing at each revolution 01 19 or 28, correspondin' say, with 360 training of a bearings ion it am e a 'n dicator.

By the introduction of suitable gear ratios,

as for en inple, the ratio of the worm and wormwheel 1S and 19 or 25 and 26, provision can be made for any number or" indications on either side oi the position of svnchronism. For example, in association with the worm and wormwheel or other gearing a system of carry-over or counter drums may be provided that would give the requisite number or" indications.

The invention is not limited to the use of. a cam drum of the type indicated. Any known form of side or profile cam or other suitable equivalent may be used.

hen a large number of indications has to be made, the insulator 20, see Figure 1, may be increased in length by the use of variable speed gearing, say, elliptic wheels. For example, see Figure 6, mounted to rotate with the worm wheel 19 there is a wheel 30 of elliptic form which gears with another wheel 31 orsimilar type. Associated with the wheel 31 there is a Contact disc 32 having an insulator 20 corresponding with that described, see Figure 1, but of greater length in view or" the gear ratio of the wheels 30 and 31; lVith the disc 32 there are-lassociated contact brushes 21 and 22 as previously described.

I claim:-

1. A relay system having transmitter mechanism and following mechanism, the transmitter mechanism comprising a displaceable device displaceable about a posi tionot synchronism by rotation to an unlimited extent, two motive elements, one capable of displacing saiddevice, the other capable of replacing said device, a control element displacea'ble about a mean position through the intermediary oi: the displace able device, and retaining means for the control element, for the purposes set forth.

A relay system having ti mechanism and ollowing inecha transn'iitter menism comprising a displaceable device displaceable about a position of synchronism by rotation to an unlimited extent, hand actuated motive element for displacing said device, a motive element for replacing said device, a control element displaceable about a mean position through the intermediary of the displaceable device, and retaining means for the control element, for the purposes set forth.

3. A relay system having transmitter mechanism and following mechanism, the transmitter mechanism comprising a displaceable device displaceable about a position of synchronism by rotation to an unlimited extent, a motive element for displacing said device, a receiver motor for replacing said device, a control element displaceable about a mean position through the intermediary of the displaceable device, and retaining means for the control element, for the purposes set forth.

i. A relav system having transmitter mechanism and following mechanism, the transmitter mechanism comprising a displaceable device displaceable about a position of synchronism by rotation to an unlimited extent, a hand actuated motive element for displacing said device, a receiver motor for replacing said device, a control element displaceable about a mean position through the intermediary of the displaceable device, and retaining means for the control element, for the purposes set forth.

5. A relay system having transmitter mechanism and following mechanism, the transmitter mechanism comprising a displaceable device displaceable about a position of synchronism by rotation to an unlimited extent, a surface slot having open ends in said device extending angularly with reference to the axis of said device, two motive elements, one for displacing said device, the other for replacing said device, a control element having a part to engage with said surface slot and thereby displaceable about a mean position, and retaining means for the control element, for the purposes'set forth.

6. A relay system having transmitter mechanism and following mechanism, the transmitter mechanism comprising a displaceable device displaceable about a position of synchronism by rotation to an unlimited extent, two motive elements, a differential through which movements of the motive elements are transmitted, one of the motive elements being for displacing said device, the other motive element for replacing said device, a control element displaceable about a mean position through the intermediary of the displaceable device, and

retaining means for the control element, for the purposes set forth.

'7. A relay system having transmitter mechanism and followin mechanfsm, the transmitter mechanism comprising a dis placeable device displaceable about a position of synchronism by rotation to an unlimited extent, a surface slot having open ends in said device, two motive elements, one for displacing said device, the other for replacing said device, a rocking arm, a pin carried by the rocking arm to engage said surface slot, and retaining means for the rocking arm, for the purposes set forth.

8. A relay system having transmitter mechanism and following mechanism, the transmitter mechanism comprising a displaceable device displaceable about a position of synchronism by rotation to an un limited extent, two motive elements, one capable of displacing said device, the other capable of replacing said device, a control element displaceable into extreme positions about a mean position through the intermediary of the displaceable device, and electrical means for retaining the control element in its extreme positions except when the displaceable device is within one rotation of the position of synchronism, for the purposes set forth.

relay system having transmitter mechanism and following mechanism, the transmitter mechanism comprising a displaceable device displaceable about a position of synchronism by rotation to an unlimited extent, two motive elements, one capable of displacing said device, the other capable of replacing said device, a control element displaceable into extreme positions about a mean position through the intermediary of the displaceable device. the control element having a switch member, contactors and an electric circuit for controlling the actions of the following mechanism, and means for retaining the control element in its extreme positions except when the dis placeable device is within one rotation of the position of synchronism, for the purposes set forth.

lO. A relay system having transmitter mechanism and following mechanism, the transmitter mechanism comprising a displaceable device displaceable about a position of synchronism by rotation to an unlimited extent, two motive elements, one capable of displacing said device, the other capable of replacing said device, a control element displaceable into extreme positions about a mean position through the intermediary of the displaceable device, an armature associated with and for use in retaining the control element, a contact, rotatable with the displaceable device, said contact having a conducting portion and an insulated portion, an electro-magnet to act upon said armature except when the displaceable device 1s W1th1n one rotation of the position of synchronlsm, and brushes for use with the conducting and insulating portions of the contact for so controlling the circuit of the electro-magnet, for the purposes set forth.

11. A relay system having transmitter mechanism and following mechanism, the transmitter mechanism comprising a displaceable device displaceable about a position of synchronism by rotation to an unlimited eXtent, t-Womotive elements, one capable of displacing said device, the other 5 capable of replacing said device, control element displaceable about a mean position through the intermediary of the displaceable device, an armature associated with and for use in retaining the control element, a contact, variable speed gearing driven by the displaceable device, said contact having a conducting portion and an insulated portion, an electro-magnet to act upon said armature except when the displaceable device is Within one rotation of the position of synchronism, and brushes for use with the conducting and insulating portions of the contact for so controlling the circuit cf the electro-magnet, for the purposes set forth.

JAMES WEIR FRENCH. 

